We made a David craft as a way to reinforce the story. These books are a great resource for discussing positive behaviors and expectations that lead to school success!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
No, David!
In a Kindergarten lesson, we read three books by David Shannon: No, David!, David Goes to School, and David Gets in Trouble. As we read the books we identified the behaviors that were causing David to get in trouble and what better choices he could be making. After reading we identified characteristics and behaviors that would describe a Peacebreaker or a Peacemaker. I charted student responses on the board.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Feelings Centers.
This year our school schedule has a unique Friday rotation to allow for vertical PLCs to meet. Because of this I have 3 55-minute classroom guidance rotations on Fridays outside of my usual every other week schedule, and I see these Friday classes every 6 weeks. I have been using these extra guidance times for "Fun Friday" so that these classes don't move ahead from their peers in my classroom guidance curriculum.
One of the things I've done so far with 3rd - 5th grade classes is centers, and these were a huge success! I loved being able to rotate around the room and observe the students learning and engaged, and the students were excited for a change of pace! This first rotation of centers focused on feelings. They were easy to put together and the students had a blast. Each rotation lasted about 10 minutes which was perfect for what I had planned. Here were the rotations I used:
1. Reading Center: I had a bucket full of books from my shelves about feelings, and students were invited to sit in my chair or lie on the carpet to read for a while.
2. iPad Center (definitely a favorite): I had access to 5 iPads so each child could use their own, and students explored the Feel Electric app. It has various games using feelings vocabulary. (I also researched how to set the iPads in guided access mode so students could not get out of this app.)
3. Poetry Center: I had students choose a feeling word to focus on and write a poem using a template I provided. They could then illustrate their poem and share it with others at their table.
4. Game Center: Students played Feelings Bingo and took turns being the caller of the feeling words for their group.
5. Art Center: I had this template of blank feeling faces for students to use to illustrate and label 12 different feelings.
I'm excited to try centers focused on other topics. I'm thinking bullying will be my next rotation to put together. Have you ever tried center rotations in your school counseling program?
One of the things I've done so far with 3rd - 5th grade classes is centers, and these were a huge success! I loved being able to rotate around the room and observe the students learning and engaged, and the students were excited for a change of pace! This first rotation of centers focused on feelings. They were easy to put together and the students had a blast. Each rotation lasted about 10 minutes which was perfect for what I had planned. Here were the rotations I used:
1. Reading Center: I had a bucket full of books from my shelves about feelings, and students were invited to sit in my chair or lie on the carpet to read for a while.
2. iPad Center (definitely a favorite): I had access to 5 iPads so each child could use their own, and students explored the Feel Electric app. It has various games using feelings vocabulary. (I also researched how to set the iPads in guided access mode so students could not get out of this app.)
3. Poetry Center: I had students choose a feeling word to focus on and write a poem using a template I provided. They could then illustrate their poem and share it with others at their table.
4. Game Center: Students played Feelings Bingo and took turns being the caller of the feeling words for their group.
5. Art Center: I had this template of blank feeling faces for students to use to illustrate and label 12 different feelings.
I'm excited to try centers focused on other topics. I'm thinking bullying will be my next rotation to put together. Have you ever tried center rotations in your school counseling program?
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Today I Feel . . .
Building a feelings vocabulary is an important part of my school counseling curriculum. In first grade we read Jamie Lee Curtis' Today I Feel Silly and made these feelings wheels.
After we finished, I called out a situation and students would point to it on their wheel. It was a great way for them to learn the vocabulary and connect feeling words within a context.
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